"ORDINARY PEOPLE in communities across the country are being victimised by criminals every day."

That's according to West Sligo councillor Joe Queenan who told the October meeting of Sligo County Council that this was happening while garda stations were being closed and downgraded.

Now, he said communities all over the country were organising community alert committees.

But they were short of resources for items such as alarm systems and pendants.

He proposed that the council call on Environment Minister Phil Hogan to allocate funding through the Leader companies to help set up community alert committees, and to provide alarm systems and other measures.

Clr. Queenan said that the surge in burglaries, fraud and petty crime in the first half of this year emphasised the need to protect community garda resources.

He said that according to CSO crime statistics, there were 28,623 burglaries in the year to the end of June.

In addition to this, he said thefts and muggings had surged by 43% during the 12-month period.